Footware having integral compartment in sole for carrying items

ABSTRACT

Footwear having an integral compartment in the sole for carrying items, such as, for example, keys, money, identification cards, credit or debit cards, medication, gum and lip balm. The integral compartment may be positioned at numerous different places along the sole of the footwear and may have one or more access points. Additionally, the integral compartment may include one of many different possible access mechanisms and may optionally include a latching mechanism and/or a locking mechanism. The compartment may also be fully removable from the footwear to be carried separately. Furthermore, the compartment may be waterproof and/or provide a watertight seal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/106,018, filed Oct. 16, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to footwear, and more specifically, to footwear having an integral compartment in the sole for carrying items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many situations in which individuals may find it burdensome, uncomfortable, inconvenient or even impossible to carry items in a purse, in a wallet, in their pockets, with their hands, or otherwise on their person. Additionally, carrying important items such as personal identification cards, keys, and credit cards in those ways may make these items vulnerable to being lost or stolen.

A need exists for footwear having an integral compartment in the sole for carrying items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of footwear having an integral compartment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of footwear having an integral compartment according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of footwear having an integral compartment according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of footwear having an integral compartment according to even another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of footwear having an integral compartment according to even yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of footwear having an integral compartment according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

The present disclosure is generally directed to footwear having an integral compartment in the sole for carrying items. The compartment can be used for carrying items such as keys, money, identification cards, credit or debit cards, medication, gum and lip balm, as examples only. Carrying items in the compartment can eliminate the need to carry a wallet, purse or any other type of carrier, and may also be useful in situations in which the individual's clothing does not have pockets. The compartment can be positioned at numerous different places along the sole of the footwear. Additionally, the compartment can include one of many different possible access mechanisms and/or optional latching and/or locking mechanisms as will be illustrated, described and discussed below. The compartment can also be fully removable from the footwear to be carried separately.

There is illustrated in FIG. 1 a piece of footwear having an example integral compartment for carrying items. In the illustrated embodiment, the footwear is a sandal 10, also often referred to as a flip-flop or a thong, having a compartment 20. Compartment 20 is located in the sole 12 of the sandal. In the illustrated embodiment, the access point 21 to compartment 20 is located along side surface 12 a of the sole. However it should be appreciated that the compartment and the access point may be positioned at other locations along the sole. The compartment may include one access point (as illustrated) or may include multiple access points to the same compartment as would generally occur to one skilled in the art. In an example alternative embodiment, the compartment can be extended across the width of the sole and can include two access points along opposite side surfaces of the sole.

In the particular illustrated embodiment, the access point is embodied as a door 22 pivotable about a side hinge 24 to allow access into the interior compartment area 26. Although the hinge is shown at the side of the door, it should be appreciated that the hinge could be positioned along the top or bottom of the door as would occur to one skilled in the art. Interior compartment area 26 may be sized and configured to hold items such as keys, currency, identification cards and credit or debit cards, as examples. It is contemplated that many different items can be carried within compartment 20, the possible items being too numerous to list.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, compartment 20 may include a latching mechanism to selectively retain hinged door 22 in the closed position to substantially prevent the items positioned within area 26 from falling out of the compartment. As illustrated, door 22 may include a knob 30 to assist in opening the door. In certain embodiments, knob 30 may be rotated or translated to release a projection (not shown) on the end of the door from a corresponding cavity within the sole of the footwear, similar to a typical latching doorknob configuration. It should be appreciated that other latching mechanisms may be used with compartment 20 as would generally occur to one skilled in the art, with the above-described latching mechanism being just one example of numerous possible mechanisms. In yet other embodiments, door 22 can include a locking system operable to lock the door in the closed position, with a key or code being required to unlock the door to remove the items within the compartment.

A piece of footwear having another example compartment is illustrated in FIG. 2. Sandal 110 includes a compartment 120 for carrying items, such as those mentioned above with respect to compartment 20. Compartment 120 consists of a drawer 122 having an interior area 128 within which items to be carried can be placed. Additionally, sole 112 of sandal 110 defines a cavity 126 configured for slideable receipt of drawer 122 through access point 121 defined in side surface 112 a of the sole of the footwear.

Drawer 122 can be slideable within cavity 126 in a variety of possible manners as would generally occur to one skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, drawer 122 includes side rails 123 slideable within corresponding channels defined in the interior walls of 126. As another example, the drawer may include side rollers which are configured to roll along rails positioned on the interior walls defining cavity 126. As yet another example, the drawer may include a slider configured to slide along a rail positioned on the interior walls of cavity 126.

Similar to the discussion above regarding compartment 20, compartment 120 may optionally include a latching mechanism to selectively retain drawer 122 within cavity 126 when desired. The latching mechanism may be any type of latching mechanism generally known to one of ordinary skill in the art. As an example, knob 130, used to pull the drawer in and out of the cavity, may be coupled to and operable to move a latch or projection extendable within a corresponding hole. In other embodiments, compartment 120 may optionally include a locking mechanism, requiring a key or code to access the drawer and the items being carried therein.

Yet another example compartment is illustrated in FIG. 3. Sandal 210 includes a compartment 220 for carrying items within the sole of the sandal. Compartment 220 consists of a sliding cover 222 slidable within a slot 223 defined in sole 212 to reveal internal compartment area 226. Area 226 may be sized and configured to carry items as discussed above with respect to compartments 20 and 120.

In the illustrated embodiment, internal compartment area 226 is accessed through access point 221 in top surface 212 b of sole 212. However, it should be appreciated that the access point to compartment 220 can be positioned at other locations along the sole of the sandal. Cover 222 may optionally include a knob 230 to assist in sliding the cover within slot 223. Additionally, in some embodiments knob 230 may optionally be coupled to a latching mechanism to selectively maintain the cover in the closed position. In other embodiments, the knob may be absent and another latching mechanism may be used. Compartment 220 may also optionally include a locking mechanism. In certain embodiments, cover 222 (and knob 230, if present) may be recessed or inset from surface 212 b so that the components do not interfere with the placement of an individual's foot on surface 212 b.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example compartment 320, similar to compartment 220 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3, except that compartment 320 is accessible through the bottom surface of the sole of the sandal rather than the top foot-placement surface. Compartment 320 within sandal 310 consists of a sliding cover 322, similar in operation to sliding cover 222, slidable within a slot 323 defined in sole 312 to reveal internal compartment area 326. Area 326 may be sized and configured as would generally occur to one skilled in the art.

In the illustrated embodiment, internal compartment area 326 is accessed through access point 321 in bottom surface 312 c of sole 312. However, it should be appreciated that the access point to compartment 320 can be positioned at other locations along the sole of the sandal. Cover 322 may optionally include a dip or depression 330 to assist a user in manipulating cover 322 to slide the cover open and closed as desired. In other embodiments, cover 322 can include a knob as in the embodiments discussed above. Additionally, compartment 320 can include a latching mechanism and/or a locking mechanism to selectively maintain the cover in the closed position as desired. As discussed above with reference to compartment 220, cover 322 may also be recessed or inset from surface 312 c so that the components do not interfere with the user of sandal 310 stepping on a support surface and the resulting contact of surface 312 c on the surface.

There is illustrated in FIG. 5 a piece of footwear having even another example integral compartment for carrying items. In the illustrated embodiment, sandal 410 includes a compartment 420 having a removable snap-fit cover 422. The illustrated compartment 420 has an internal compartment area 426 which can be accessed through access point 421 in the side surface 412 a of sole 412 of the sandal. In such embodiments, cover 422 is configured to cover the access point when desired, and is removable from sandal 410 to reveal area 426 when desired. Area 426 may be sized and configured as desired to allow for items to be positioned within the compartment for carrying.

In the illustrated embodiment, cover 422 includes a plurality of tabs 440 extending from ends of the cover. Additionally, sole 412 defines a corresponding number of holes 441 configured to snuggly receive the tabs so that the cover may be snap-fit into place. Although three such tab and hole combinations are illustrated, it should be appreciated that more or less than three may be implemented. Additionally, cover 422 may include a projection or handle 442 which a user may grab to manipulate the cover as desired. Handle 442 may be coupled to one or more of the tabs 440 and operable to release the tabs from the corresponding holes to allow for removal of the cover. In such cases, cover 422 is similar in configuration and operation to typical battery compartment covers found on some electronic devices such as remote controls. However, it should be appreciated that the removable cover can be configured differently as would generally occur to one skilled in the art, so long as the cover is removable to reveal the internal compartment area.

The previous example compartments have been described and illustrated as being integral with the sole of a sandal. In particular situations in which an individual is wearing a swimsuit and sandals, such as at the beach, pool or lake, it may be inconvenient to carry a purse or wallet and it may be unlikely that the individual's swimsuit includes a pocket for holding items that the individual desires to carry with her. In such situations, the compartments described herein may be used to carry such items within the sole of at least one of the individual's sandals, eliminating the need for the individual to also be carrying a wallet, purse or other carrier.

In addition to sandals, the compartments described herein may be used in many different other types of footwear having a sole or similar bottom component able to accept a compartment. To show an example of just one of the numerous possible footwear items which can include an integral compartment, FIG. 6 illustrates an example compartment 520 incorporated into a boot 510. For simplicity, compartment 520 is similar to compartment 10 and includes a door 522 pivotable about a hinge 524 to reveal an interior compartment area configured to receive items to be carried within the sole 512 of the boot 510.

As mentioned above, one or more numerous different items can be carried within the compartments described herein, the possible items being too many to list. Additionally, the compartments described herein can include multiple access points to the same compartment, although the illustrations show only one access point to each compartment for simplicity. Further, in certain embodiments, two or more different compartments can be included in the same piece of footwear. Moreover, one or both pieces in a pair of footwear may include one or more integral compartments. It should also be appreciated that the interior compartment areas for holding items can be sized and configured differently than as illustrated, as would generally occur to one skilled in the art.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that any of the access mechanisms, latching mechanisms, locking mechanisms, and/or compartment locations described, discussed or contemplated by the present disclosure may be combined as desired and as would generally occur to one skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, the compartments may be waterproof and/or provide a watertight seal to protect the items being carried from water damage. Further, in some embodiments the compartments may be configured to be entirely removed from the footwear and carried separately. As one non-limiting example, the compartments may define a key chain hole so that the compartments may be removed from the piece of footwear and carried on a key chain.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. 

1. A footwear, comprising: a sole sized and configured for supporting a foot; and a compartment integrated in the sole, wherein the compartment is sized and configured for carrying at least one item.
 2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the compartment is permanently integrated in the sole; and wherein the component has at least one access point along the sole.
 3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes an interior compartment area within the sole; and wherein the interior compartment area has at least one access mechanism along the sole.
 4. The footwear of claim 3, wherein the at least one access mechanism includes a door.
 5. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the door is pivotally hinged to the sole.
 6. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the compartment includes a latching mechanism for selectively retaining the door in a closed position.
 7. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the compartment includes a locking mechanism for locking the door in a closed position.
 8. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the at least one access mechanism is a cover.
 9. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the cover is slidably integrated to the sole.
 10. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the cover is removably integrated to the sole.
 11. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the compartment includes a latching mechanism for selectively retaining the cover in a closed position.
 12. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the compartment includes a locking mechanism for locking the cover in a closed position.
 13. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the compartment is removably integrated to the sole; and wherein the compartment has at least one access point along the sole.
 14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein the compartment includes a key chain hole.
 15. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole defines a cavity; and wherein the compartment includes a drawer slidable within the cavity.
 16. The footwear of claim 15, wherein the compartment includes a latching mechanism for selectively retaining the drawer in a closed position.
 17. The footwear of claim 15, wherein the compartment includes a locking mechanism for locking the drawer in a closed position.
 18. The footwear of claim 15, wherein the drawer includes a key chain hole.
 19. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the compartment is waterproof.
 20. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes a watertight seal to the sole. 